Category: Photos

Photos – KLM 777-300ER in SkyTeam Livery

Boeing today delivered a 777-300ER (Extended Range) to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Reg: PH-BVD – Name: “Nationaal Park Amboseli”). The airplane has been painted in a special SkyTeam livery in celebration of the alliance’s 10th anniversary. Today’s delivery marks the start of an in-service evaluation using chrome-free decorative paint and primer.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 777-300ER in Special SkyTeam Livery
Photo: Boeing

More photos at Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nustyr/3856519598/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nustyr/3855729967/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nustyr/3855729713/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nustyr/3856520306/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nustyr/3856520138/

As part of Boeing’s lifecycle approach to reducing environmental impact and in response to KLM’s and other customer’s requests, Boeing has introduced a chrome-free primer and chrome-free exterior decorative paint to this airplane. In addition to simplified health and safety monitoring requirements, a chrome-free primer reduces the environmental impact of the paint and stripping process. Removing chrome from the paint and primer eliminates the need for special handling of paint waste and clean-up and designated offsite disposal areas.

Boeing will apply the non-chrome paint and primer on up to 14 airplanes across Boeing models for in-service evaluation with the intention of making it a standard option in the future.

Source: Boeing

Photo – Bombardier CSeries Fuselage Test Barrel

The first test component, a fuselage test barrel, for the new CSeries single-aisle aircraft, has been delivered to Bombardier’s Saint-Laurent, Quebec facility. The test barrel is representative of the main fuselage section of the upcoming CSeries aircraft. Its production and testing will demonstrate the manufacturing and engineering structural concepts before the aircraft’s final design phase begins in 2010. The CSeries aircraft’s entry into service is scheduled for 2013.

Bombardier CSeries Fuselage

The test barrel, which measures approximately 23 feet (7 m) long and has a maximum diameter of approximately 12 feet (3.7 m), is made of advanced aluminum alloys. These materials have been selected to provide weight and maintenance advantages for CSeries jetliner operators.

Built by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a unit of China Aviation Industry, the test barrel left Dalian, China on July 20, 2009, traveled across the Pacific and then 2,500 miles from California to Quebec.

Over 10 per cent of the CSeries aircraft will be manufactured in China by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. Shenyang also supplies the empennage, as well as the aft and forward fuselage sections for Bombardier’s Q400 turboprop airliner.

Bombardier’s 110-seat and 130-seat CSeries aircraft will benefit from the latest technological advancements, including: fourth generation aerodynamics; increased use of composites and advanced aluminium alloys in structures; a next-generation engine – the Pratt & Whitney PurePowerTM PW1000G engine; and the very latest in system technologies, such as fly-by-wire and electric brakes.

Photo: Bombardier
Source: Bombardier

Photos – Red Bull Air Race Budapest

This week the 4th Red Bull Air Race of the 2009 season was taking place in Budapest (Hungary).

On Wednesday, American Kirby Chambliss upset championship leader Hannes Arch in Qualifying at 4th round, snatching one championship point away from the Austrian with the fastest time of the day. Australia’s rookie sensation Matt Hall got a career-best third while Arch’s main rival for the overall title, Britain’s Paul Bonhomme, fell to sixth place.

Today the American Michael Goulian won the thrill-filled final race, while Britain’s Paul Bonhomme grabbed second place and knocked Austrian Hannes Arch out of the championship lead in a thrilling battle over the Danube River in front of a national holiday crowd of 650,000. American Kirby Chambliss grabbed third place, which dropped Arch into fourth and off the podium for the first time in over a year. German rookie Matthias Dolderer took a career-best fifth place.

Photos

Red Bull Air Race 2009 Budapest Qualifying Peter Besenyei

Red Bull Air Race Budapest Qualifying Peter Besenyei 2009

Red Bull Air Race Budapest Flying under Bridge Red Bull Air Race Budapest Stunning Flight Action

Photos by Red Bull (Thanks!)

Photo – An-225 Mriya with New Livery

The world’s largest cargo plane, the Antonov An-225 Mriya (UR-82060) was spotted at Kiev – Gostomel (UKKM) (Ukraine) wearing a fantastic new livery!

Photos from Airliners.net and JetPhotos.net

The new design consists of blue and yellow stripes which represents the flag of the Ukraine. An “Antonov Airlines” logo is painted on the vertical stabilizers.

Photos – 787 Dreamliner Painted in Special Livery

Boeing today released photos of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight test airplane that has been painted in a special Boeing livery.

The fifth 787 flight test airplane (N787FT) is painted white with blue accents. The new livery incorporates visual and color elements from the distinctive blue-and-white Boeing Commercial Airplanes livery seen on the first 787 flight test airplane and other new commercial models. The simplified paint scheme will be applied to the three remaining unpainted flight test airplanes (Nos. 3, 4 and 6). Airplane No. 2 has been painted in the colors of launch customer ANA of Japan.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Painted in Special Livery

Boeing 787 Dreamliner (N787FT) Special Livery

The modified livery, which saves time and expense compared to the full Boeing livery, will remain on the airplane until the flight test program is completed and it is refurbished and delivered to a customer.

The airplane’s two GEnx engines have been temporarily removed and returned to GE Aviation so that planned minor improvements can be made.

Source: Boeing
Photos: Boeing

Photo – Boeing 747-8 Freighter Making Progress

Boeing today published a new photo, showing that they took a major step closer toward completing the assembly of the first 747-8 Freighter. Last week the forward and aft fuselage sections were loaded to join with the wing and center section.
Boeing 747-8 Freighter Joining Fuselage Sections and Wings
The 747-8 Freighter is 250 feet, 2 inches (76.3 m) long, which is 18 feet and 4 inches (5.6 m) longer than the 747-400 Freighter. The stretch provides customers with 16 percent more revenue cargo volume compared to its predecessor. That translates to four additional main-deck pallets and three additional lower-hold pallets.

Boeing has secured 78 orders from cargo operators for the new 747-8 Freighter. Cargolux, Nippon Cargo Airlines, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Atlas Air, Cathay Pacific, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Emirates SkyCargo, Guggenheim and Korean Air all have placed orders for the airplane.

Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing

Photos – Southwest 2294 Damaged Fuselage Section

The NTSB released the following two photos of Southwest Airlines 737-300 (N387SW), Flight 2294, that experienced a rapid decompression after a hole opened in the fuselage on July 13, 2009.

Southwest 2294 Damaged Fuselage
Damaged section of fuselage skin facing outside the aircraft
Southwest Airlines 737-300 (N387SW) Flight 2294 Damaged Fuselage

Damaged section of fuselage skin facing inside the aircraft
Southwest Airlines Flight 2294 Hole in Fuselage

The damaged aircraft skin section was visually examined in the NTSB’s Materials Laboratory. The damage left a hole measuring approximately 17 inches by 8 inches. The skin in this area of the fuselage is 0.032 inches thick with an additional 0.032 inch thick layer bonded to the interior surface in selected areas.

According to NTSB the initial visual examination found the fractures in good condition and suitable for further analysis. No significant corrosion or obvious pre-existing mechanical damage was noted. A detailed metallurgical examination of the skin section and the fracture surfaces will be accomplished by the Safety Board in the coming days.

Southwest Airlines is now in the process of repairing the aircraft at Yeager Airport, Charleston, West Virginia.

Photos: NTSB

Related:
* April 2011 – Second Southwest B737 Fuselage Rupture
Southwest Boeing 737 – Hole in Fuselage

Southwest Boeing 737 – Hole in Fuselage

On Monday evening, Southwest Airlines flight 2294, a Boeing 737-300, made an emergency landing at Charleston after a hole opened in the fuselage. The Flight was on its way from Nashville to Baltimore at 34,000 feet when it depressurized and the oxygen masks deployed.

Photo from outside – Looking at upper fuselage

Southwest Airlines Flight 2294 - Hole in Fuselage

Photo from inside – Cabin head covering being sucked out

Southwest Airlines Flight 2294 Hole in Cabin

It’s still not clear what caused the hole, about one foot square, in the upper fuselage near the vertical stabilizer. Southwest Airlines says it’s found no evidence of structural problems in the rest of its 200 Boeing 737-300 aircraft. Passengers said they heard a “loud pop” about 45 minutes into the flight. NTSB is investigating.

Video by AP

Raw Video filmed by passenger

Photos – 747-8 Freighter – Boeing Joins Wings with Body

Boeing today announced that they have completed another milestone in the assembly of the first 747-8 Freighter by joining the wings to the fuselage. The 40-foot (12 m) fuselage section was attached to the center wing box in the final assembly bay at the factory in Everett. The wing and center section are now being prepared for final body join, when the assembly will be connected to the forward and aft fuselage sections.

Boeing 747-8 Freighter Wings and Fuselage Joining
Boeing 747-8 Freighter Fuselage

The 747 Program has secured 78 orders from cargo operators for the new 747-8 Freighter. Cargolux, Nippon Cargo Airlines, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Atlas Air, Cathay Pacific, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Emirates SkyCargo, Guggenheim and Korean Air all have placed orders for the airplane.

Source & Photos: Boeing